Man dies after lab explosion in Puna

Published January 3, 2014 - 4:43pm

Updated:

January 3, 2014 - 4:43pm

A 30-year-old Keaau man injured last week in a butane honey oil lab explosion in Puna has died from his injuries.

The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of his family, was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. Thursday at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.

The Dec. 28 blast on 17th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision also knocked out windows, melted plumbing fixtures and blew the doors off cabinets, according to police. At the scene, police found evidence of a lab used to manufacture butane honey oil, a marijuana byproduct. A 28-year-old woman, who was not home at the time of the explosion, was subsequently arrested and then released pending investigation.

Police urge the public to call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 if they know of any clandestine drug lab.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.